News & events

Dr Sampson Hu has been selected as one of the all-time top 50 entrepreneurs by SetSquared

Dr Sampson Hu has been selected as one of the all-time top 50 entrepreneurs by SetSquared, a leading university technology growth body.

Dr Hu, 33, set up Smart Antenna Technologies (SAT) in 2013 after completing his studies at the University of Birmingham.

SAT has invented the world’s first multi antenna system for a laptops and smartphones.

Currently smartphones and laptops have up to five separate antenna for  Bluetooth, Wi Fi and 4G connections.

SAT technology combines all those antenna into one single system and can extend battery life by up to 10%.

SetSquared Partnership, the world’s leading university technology incubator, selected Dr Hu from over 1000 entrepreneurs that the organisation has helped grow over the past 15 years.

Dr Hu was honoured by MPs at the House of Commons (Wednesday 29 March) by the SetSquared Innovation Director Simon Bond.

Dr Hu, from Birmingham said: ‘I am honoured to be recognised by the world’s leading university incubator as one of their 50 all time entrepreneurs.

‘Building SAT up from nothing has been hard work for SAT’s team and myself but it was made easier with the help from SetSquared.’

Simon Bond, Innovation Director at SETsquared, said: “When I look back on the last 15 years, I am overwhelmed by the talent and achievements of the entrepreneurs that SETsquared has supported.

“They have brought world-leading innovations to market and these have been exported across the globe. SETsquared has provided support and a network for these entrepreneurs including access to mentors, experts, international markets and investors, and they are now out there doing SETsquared and the UK proud.”

Dr Sampson Hu has been selected as one of the all-time top 50 entrepreneurs by SetSquared

 

A Birmingham healthcare company waved the British flag of innovation last week when they took part in a pioneering Medical Technology (MedTech) mission across Texas.

Based at the BioHub at Birmingham Research Park, Rightangled Diagnostics was one of six UK companies chosen to take part in the mission to showcase UK healthcare excellence.

 

The biotech company, who specialise in cardiac health, use the latest advancements in biotechnology and genetic testing in order to help patients at an increased risk of developing certain heart conditions, and to help optimise their drug prescription.

 

Throughout the week-long visit to the State, Rightangled Diagnostics visited leading health organisations across Texas in a bid to explore future partnering opportunities.

The unique visit offered the company an opportunity to connect with a variety of healthcare systems, R&D, buying and professional organisations at the highest levels. The objective was to foster new relationships and adopt cutting-edge medical technologies into the state.

For Texan-based organisations, it is an important opportunity to learn about and engage with the UK’s health system and understand how the market works.

The visit was organised by the Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) and is supported by the UK government.

Founder and CEO of Rightangled Diagnostics Abdullah Sabyah, said: “The trip was a great experience and an invaluable opportunity to meet and network with key decision-making individuals at the highest levels inside hospitals and prominent healthcare establishments in the State. It was great to showcase Birmingham and the UK in Texas.”

Texas is the seventh largest health economy in the world and has significant ambition to be a global healthcare and life sciences player over the next decade. The tour began in Houston, before moving to Dallas and Austin.

The visit was timed to coincide with the health track of South by Southwest (SXSW) thus providing a further opportunity to meet with leaders in health and technology.

 

ENDS 

More information about the ABHI

The Association of British Healthcare Industries (ABHI) is the industry association for the medical technology sector in the UK.

ABHI’s mission is to champion the benefits and use of safe and effective medical technologies to deliver high quality patient outcomes. With over 250 members, the ABHI leads the advocacy of the industry in order to advance access to medical technology.

Their membership includes some of the leading multinational businesses in the sector in the UK; right the way through to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). Each year, the ABHI organises the UK Pavilions at leading medical technology exhibitions including MEDICA and Arab Health.

For further information visit: www.abhi.org.uk

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR SMES – INFORMATION SESSION AT BIRMINGHAM RESEARCH PARK : 30TH MARCH 2017 2—4PM

Birmingham City Council’s new £33 million Business Growth Programme (BGP) is a comprehensive business support package designed to strengthen supply chains, stimulate innovation and grow existing SMEs across Greater Birmingham and Solihull

The Business Innovation Programme is aimed at existing B2B Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) investing in innovative ”close-to-market”  products and services. Capital and revenue grants are available of £10,000 to £30,000

The Business Development Programme is aimed at existing B2B Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) looking to expand, relocate and improve access to markets. Capital and revenue grants are available of £10,000 to £20,000.

The HS2 Supply Chain Programme is targeted at existing B2B supply chain Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SMEs) which have, or are in the process of securing, or have the ability to secure a contract for HS2.

The Green Bridge Supply Chain Programme is targeted at existing B2B Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SME) supply chain companies operating in, or expanding into the green economy, demonstrating quantifiable green benefit (i.e. energy efficiency, waste management, recycling and renewables).

Part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and in partnership with Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire and The Marches Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs).

Meet the Business Development and Innovation Team and find out more at a drop in session at Birmingham Research Park: 2- 4pm. Conference Room B on the ground floor.

Discover how University of Birmingham research is solving real world problems at the

Final Showcase of the Enterprising Birmingham Innovation Competition.Three inventive finalists will pitch their ideas to a Dragons’ Den style judging panel for a £20,000 investment.

The event on Wednesday 29^th March 2017 kicks off with a buffet lunch starting at 12.30pm, before the pitching event at 2.15pm.  The awards ceremony at 4.15pm is followed by a wine reception where guests will have the opportunity to network with innovative researchers, alumni, public and private sector partners, funders, investors.

Keynote speakers include Lord Bilimoria of Chelsea, Chancellor of the University of Birmingham and Chairman of Cobra Beer, and Dr Sam Decombel who studied at the University before founding FitnessGenes, a DNA analysis platform  which provides a personalised, precision approach to diet and exercise.

Enterprising Birmingham rewards researchers who have identified a commercial opportunity for their research – and the winning entries may well be the commercial success stories of tomorrow.  Join us for an inspiring afternoon to celebrate the creativity, entrepreneurial flair and academic endeavour of the University of Birmingham.

Reserve your free ticket here.

 

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE 26 January 2017

Midlands universities showcase the “critical mass” of investment opportunity in the region

26 January 2017: The University of Birmingham and the University of Nottingham announce that they will be presenting jointly for the first time on January 26^th, at an invitation-only event held by Mercia Technologies PLC, one of the UK’s leading investors in early-stage technology companies, including university spin-out companies.

The two universities are the largest in the Midlands, and have an established agreement to collaborate on research, business engagement and internationalisation. They also have an outstanding pipeline of Intellectual Property which rivals that of the universities in the Golden Triangle.

The event aims to showcase the critical mass of investment opportunities in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland and it will take place in Manchester’s Town Hall at 6.30pm tonight.

Dr Mark Payton, CEO of Mercia Technologies PLC, said: “This year, Mercia is bringing together its entire Group to celebrate the wealth of investment opportunities that exist in the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland.  With university partnerships across what we refer to as the capital-underserved regions of the UK, we have invested in spinout businesses from both Birmingham and Nottingham universities. We are confident that these exemplary research institutions will provide further evidence of their ability to create innovative technology businesses that are capable of boosting the economy and creating jobs.”

Dr James Wilkie, CEO of Alta Innovations, the technology transfer company for the University of Birmingham, said: “We will be touching upon a vibrant and diverse sampling from the two spin-out portfolios.  Many of the companies have disruptive technologies and all address areas of high unmet need in their respective sectors.  They also benefit from the guidance and support provided by the experienced technology transfer teams at the two universities.”

Dr Susan Huxtable, Director of IP and Commercialisation at The University of Nottingham, said: “The joint portfolios from the two universities have attracted over £200 million in investment in recent years. Successes such as the flotation of Oncimmune in May 2016 for £66 million are a concrete example of the high quality of our portfolio companies. Through this joint initiative we hope to attract even more investment, resulting in more successful flotations in the near future.”

The University of Birmingham has a portfolio which includes –

Smart Antenna Technologies: a single antenna system for mobile devices that can fit in the hinge of a laptop, reducing mobile device size, boosting battery life and reducing production costs

Linear Diagnostics: a handheld device that identifies antibiotic resistant bacteria in body fluids

Cytox: a blood-based test to predict whether an individual with Mild Cognitive Impairment will develop Alzheimer’s disease

Irresistible materials: unique carbon-based materials that deposit a layer of material at the nanometer scale, to overcome roadblocks in development of next generation of semi-conductors

BioVici: a blood-based, diagnostic test that shows whether an individual with a head injury should be treated for Traumatic Brain Injury

The University of Nottingham has a portfolio which includes –

SurePulse Medical:  a highly accurate heart rate measuring technology designed specifically for babies who need resuscitation at birth

Locate Therapeutics: a unique, thermally-active, injectable tissue scaffold that provides support for tissue repair before dissolving away

Azotic Technologies: a seed coating that enables plants to fix nitrogen from the air reducing the need for nitrogenous fertilizer and the associated pollution from run-off

Footfalls & Heartbeats:  smart knitted fabrics made with electrically conductive yarn which can measure compressive and tensile force. Applications include sports clothing, compression bandages and hospital beds.

Promethean Particles: a manufacturing process to produce nanoparticles of defined size and morphology in wet dispersions  – the wide variety of applications includes nano-copper for printed electronics.

NU Vision:  high quality, affordable biotherapies for treating ‘front of the eye’ disease and trauma

Ends

About the University of Birmingham. Alta Innovations is the technology transfer company for the University of Birmingham.  The company provides an Intellectual Property service to University academics, and manages the University of Birmingham spinout portfolio, which includes both life science and technology companies.   For further information about the University of Birmingham spinout portfolio, please contact Ruth Ashton, Communications Manager, on 0121 414 9090, 07989 558 041, or email [email protected].

About the University of Nottingham

The University of Nottingham has 43,000 students and is ‘the nearest Britain has to a truly global university, with campuses in China and Malaysia modelled on a headquarters that is among the most attractive in Britain’ (Times Good University Guide 2014). It is also the most popular university in the UK among graduate employers, one of the world’s greenest universities, and winner of the Times Higher Education Award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development’. It is ranked in the World’s Top 75 universities by the QS World University Rankings.

More information on the Nottingham portfolio is available from Nick King, Marketing Projects Manager, University of Nottingham, +44 (0)115 82 32184, or email [email protected]

About Mercia Technologies PLC

Mercia is a national investment group focused on the creation, funding and scaling of innovative businesses with high growth potential from the UK regions. Mercia benefits from 18 university partnerships and six offices across the Midlands, the North of England and Scotland providing it with access to high quality, regional deal flow. Mercia Technologies PLC is quoted on AIM with the epic “MERC”.

Mercia’s ‘Complete Capital Solution’ initially nurtures businesses via its third party funds (with more than £228.0million under management) and then over time Mercia can provide further funding to its ‘Emerging Stars’ by deploying direct investment follow-on capital from its own balance sheet.

Since its IPO in December 2014, the Company has invested over £30.0million directly across its portfolio of Emerging Stars.

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

Alta Innovations Ltd, Birmingham, 11 January 2017:

University of Birmingham announces first investment from Spinout Investment fund

The University of Birmingham has made the first investment from its £5m University of Birmingham Spinout Investment fund, which provides match funding for spinout companies in which the University is, or will become, a shareholder.

The investment has been made to Smart Antenna Technologies, a spinout founded in 2013 to develop a new generation of antenna for smart phones and laptops. Currently mobile devices have separate antennae for GPS, WiFi, BlueTooth, G4, and G5. Smart Antenna has invented a new antenna system that combines these separate antennas into a single unit, providing a considerable saving in space, battery life and cost.

The University of Birmingham Spinout Investment fund was created to provide investment where there is a clear commercial appetite for the technology, the concept or product has passed proof of concept testing and where there is confidence in the management board to deliver to the next stage of planned growth.

Smart Antenna’s technology will extend smart phone battery life by up to 10%. The company estimates the demand from the mobile device market will exceed 2 billion units per year, and will be exploiting the substantial opportunities in other markets including the Internet of Things and car antenna systems.

The University of Birmingham investment was part of a £1 million investment raise, which will enable Smart Antenna Technologies to recruit additional engineering staff and complete product development with a major industry partner.

Dr James Wilkie, CEO of the University’s tech transfer company Alta Innovations said: “The technology developed by Smart Antenna has attracted substantial interest and we believe this is an exciting time to invest.”

– Ends –

About Smart Antenna Technologies

Smart Antenna Technologies was found founded in 2013 by Dr Sampson Hu, who has been working on the core technology since 2009, while completing his PhD at the University of Birmingham. Dr Hu received support from Alta Innovations, the University’s technology transfer company, which operates an end-to-end training and support service for entrepreneurs at the University. Smart Antenna Technologies is based in Edgbaston, Birmingham and has a separate office in Bath. The company has grown from 3 employees to around 20 in three years. For more information see: http://www.smartantennatech.com/

About Alta Innovations

Alta Innovations is the technology transfer company for the University of Birmingham. It provides an Intellectual Property service to University academics, and its offerings also include free business training and mentoring, office and laboratory space at the Birmingham Research Park. Alta Innovations also manages the University of Birmingham spinout portfolio, which includes both life science and technology companies.

For further information about the University of Birmingham spinout portfolio, or for an interview with Dr Sampson Hu, please contact Ruth Ashton, Communications Manager, on 0121 414 9090, 07989 558 041, or email [email protected]

About the University of Birmingham

The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 5,000 international students from over 150 countries.

For more information on the University of Birmingham, please contact Tony Moran, International Communications Manager, on +44 (0) 121 414 8254 or +44 (0)782 783 2312. For out of hours media enquiries, please call: +44 (0) 7789 921 165.

 

The BioHub Birmingham®, Birmingham’s flagship life science incubator, is hosting its first BioBrum Life Science event on 16^th February 2017.  Aimed at pre-revenue life science companies the free event will include talks on finance, intellectual property, effective use of professional networks and business development.  There will also be an opportunity for one-to-one advice sessions with IP, finance and business planning specialists.

 

The event will be held at the Birmingham Research Park, which houses a community of research-led companies and is the home of The BioHub.  All eligible companies registering for the event will have the opportunity to win six months free laboratory space at The BioHub*, and complementary business assistance provided by the Enterprise Acceleration team at the University of Birmingham. We are looking for highly disruptive and innovative approaches, and the projects will be judged on how novel they are, as well as their long term commercial potential.

 

The BioHub is nestled amongst a vibrant life science community including the University of Birmingham, and two leading NHS hospitals – together with their associated centres of clinical and research excellence. The BioHub provides facilities for incubation and growth of life science companies from proof of concept stage to fully fledged, commercially competitive businesses. It provides access to top quality shared biomedical lab equipment and desk space at a fraction of commercial rates.  A negotiable, all inclusive, monthly rate allows the fledgling life science companies to work towards reaching a commercially competitive stage. 

 

The BioHub has an enviable geographic position at the heart of the Edgbaston Medical Quarter, and benefits from the superb transport links provided by the dedicated University railway station and free parking.  The BioHub residents can also benefit from the expertise, facilities and equipment at the University of Birmingham.

 

We thank Barker Brettell, HGF and Blue Sky Finance for their sponsorship and support for the event, Birmingham Research Park for providing the conference facility, and gratefully acknowledge support from WMAHSN (West Midlands Academic Health Sciences Network), OBN, BIA (BioIndustry Association), Innovate UK – The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, ioLight, Medilink WM and Bob Roopra Consulting.

 

To attend the event, send your expression of interest to Dr Ewa Truchanowicz at [email protected]. 

 

* The prize has to be redeemed/licence commenced within six months of receipt. It can be redeemed as either six months free for one bench and one desk at the BioHub or as two benches for shorter period of time, or any other combination up to the licence value of £6,840. Additional business support from BizzInn will also be provided free of charge to the winner. No equity will be taken in lieu of the prize. 

 

–          Ends –

For further information about the Birmingham BioHub visit www.thebiohub.co.uk, email [email protected], or call 07752 152 569.

 

 

 

On 4^th January 2017, a new café will open at the Birmingham Research Park.  Located in the foyer of the Institute of Research & Development, the Park Life café will be open on weekdays 8.00am to 3.15pm (3pm Fri) and will serve hot & cold food, snacks and beverages.  The café will be open to staff and students from the University of Birmingham campus, in addition to tenants from the Birmingham Research Park and the University’s bio-incubator facility at Birmingham BioHub.  Staff ID cards can be used for purchasing food, and the menu will include breakfast bacon sandwiches, baked potatoes, paninis, soup, cakes and breakfast pastries. 

 

Train delays caused by leaves on the line could be avoided if a new, low-cost sensor developed at the University of Birmingham is used on railway networks.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-38158732